Leica Model Sells At Nearly US$3 Million, Is Now ‘World’s Most Expensive’ Camera

A ‘Leica 0 Series’ prototype from 1923 has been auctioned off at €2.4 million (US$2.96 million), a record-breaking price that has led it to become the “most expensive camera in the world.”

The sale was clinched at the 32nd WestLicht auction in Vienna on Saturday. The camera of serial number 122 had a starting price of €400,000 (US$494,000), but accrued a 600 percent rise in value by the end of the auction.

According toPetaPixel, there are only 12 known cameras of this series from the original batch that are left in the world. However, only three are in mint condition.

The previous world record went to model number 116 of the ‘Leica 0’ series, which WestLicht sold at €2.16 million (US$2.66 million) in 2012.

Responding to the new title, Andreas Kaufmann, Chairman of Leica’s supervisory board, said, “The world record [selling] price of [€2.4 million] shows that the legacy of Leica’s brand continues to grow.”